Donald Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for starting the war with Russia, following a massive Russian attack that killed 35 people and injured 117 others in Ukraine. Trump also shared blame with Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Joe Biden, saying "millions of people dead" due to the conflict.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins responded to President Trump’s criticism after she asked about the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been granted legal protection from deportation by an immigration judge. Trump lashed out at Collins during a meeting with the president of El Salvador, questioning her credibility and asking why she couldn't simply praise his administration's efforts to keep "criminals" out of the country. The exchange was replayed on Collins' show, where she reminded viewers that Garcia faced danger from gang members in his home country and disputed claims that he was a member of MS-13.

A Trump official, Tricia McLaughlin, defended the deportation of El Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia by comparing him to Osama Bin Laden. She stated that Garcia was an illegal alien and MS-13 gang member, implying he was a terrorist. Garcia had been deported to El Salvador after being accused of being a gang member, despite his lawyers claiming he has no gang affiliations, no criminal charges, and has lived peacefully in Maryland with his family for 10 years.

CNN anchor Dana Bash defended her colleague Kaitlan Collins on-air after President Trump berated her during an Oval Office press conference for asking about the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was granted legal protection from deportation by an immigration judge. Bash cut away from the live press conference to respond to Trump's claim that "CNN hates our country," stating that CNN does not hate America and that she sees a rhetorical device in Trump's statement.